While regular courtroom protocol requires litigants to present themselves before the bench for verification and formalities, an extraordinary display of institutional empathy took place at the Dausa district court premises in Rajasthan. When a 96-year-old woman found herself physically unable to negotiate the stairs to reach the courtroom situated on the first floor, the presiding judge chose humanity over rigid procedural convention. District and Sessions Judge Keshav Kaushik stepped down from his first-floor courtroom to personally meet the nonagenarian seated in a vehicle and complete the required legal procedures.
Physical Frailty Made Climbing Stairs Impossible
The claimant, 96-year-old Sampatti Devi Sharma, widow of the late Radheshyam Sharma, was suffering from acute physical immobility due to advanced age. The court of the District and Sessions Judge is located on the first floor of the court complex, accessible only by a flight of stairs that presented an insurmountable challenge for the elderly woman. Upon her arrival at the premises in a private car, her relatives realized that moving her up the staircase was practically impossible. When court officials brought her distressing condition to the notice of District and Sessions Judge Keshav Kaushik, he decided to intervene personally.
Judge Walked to the Car to Finalize Documentation
Keshav Kaushik, who also serves as the Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority, resolved that the elderly litigant should not be subjected to physical agony for procedural compliance. The judicial officer walked down from his courtroom on the first floor and approached the car parked in the court compound where the elderly woman was seated. Standing by the vehicle, he ensured all essential documentation, verifications, and procedural signatures were gathered smoothly without requiring her to step out or exert herself physically.
Handover of Compensation Cheque Amounting to Rs 8,21,067
Once the legal paperwork was completed at the vehicle itself, District and Sessions Judge Keshav Kaushik personally handed over the compensation cheque amounting to Rs 8,21,067 into the hands of Sampatti Devi Sharma. The award stemmed from a legal dispute adjudicated by the Jaipur Bench of the Rajasthan High Court. The High Court had passed the formal award on 6 May 2026, directing that the awarded compensation be disbursed to the claimants.
Compliance with High Court Directions for Account Deposit
In accordance with the ruling from the Jaipur Bench, the opposing insurance firm, The New India Insurance Company, deposited the total compensation sum of Rs 8,21,067, which included accrued interest, with the tribunal. Under the High Court directions, the award amount was designated for direct deposit into the savings bank accounts of the claimants, making physical verification an obligatory requirement. The judge's proactive gesture demonstrated that adherence to legal rigor and administrative protocols can coexist harmoniously with practical empathy and deep respect for senior citizens.
